Nomination for Hobbs, Isaac, House

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

FHR-8-300 (11-78) United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries - complete applicable sections 1. Name For HCRS use only received APR 2 8 1982 date JUNergd 1982 historic ISAAC HOBBS HOUSE ISAAC HOBBS HOUSE and/or common 2. Location street & number 87 North Avenue NA not for publication city, town Weston N.A vicinity of state Massachusetts 3. Classification Category Ownership district - public X building(s) X private _ structure both _ site Public Acquisition -object NA in process being considered code 025 county congressional district 4th Middlesex code 017 Status _ occupied . unoccupied work in progress Accessible Xyes: restricted yes: unrestricted .

no Present Use - agriculture commercial educational entertainment -government industrial military museum park X private residence religious scientific transportation other: 4. Owner of Property name William D. Modahl and Charlotte Modahl street & number 87 North Avenue city, town Weston NA vicinity of 5. Location of Legal Description state Massachusetts courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Middlesex County Courthouse street & number Thorndike Street city, town Cambridge state 6. Representation in Existing Surveys Inventory of the Historic Assets title of the Commonwealth #27 has this property been determined elegible? date 1973 _ federalX state Massachusetts - yes X no _ county local depository for survey records city, town Boston Massachusetts Historical Commission state Massachusetts 02108 7.

Description Isaac Hobbs House, 87 North Avenue, Weston Condition X _ excellent good fair deteriorated ruins unexposed Check one unaltered X _ altered Check one X original site moved date NA Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

The Isaac Hobbs House is located at the prominent intersection of North Avenue and Church Street in the Kendal Green section of Weston. The large Georgian building is placed close to the street but sits on a 24 acre site, which also includes part of a large pond formed by the Hobbs Tannery dam. The area north of this property is wooded; that to the east -- including the tannery site--has been formally preserved as conservation land by the Town of Weston. The 2½ story frame structure is sheathed in clapboards and has broad gable roofs, four asymmetrical chimneys, and six over six window sash throughout. The basic T-plan of the Hobbs House has a large main block (ca. 1758) with a transverse gable, and a small ell on the north thought to be of earlier construction (ca. 1729?).

Although this ell retains the scale and character of the original colonial house, the main section has been altered to present more of the atmosphere of the late nineteenth century. The large transverse the west facade and a small 2-story addition on the south were added ca. 1889. The facade of the main section, looking west, has five bays with a center entrance portico and cross gable. The pedimented portico has Tuscan columns and shelters a doorway with full-length sidelights. The attached four-bay ell has an asymmetrical doorway with a small portico featuring a hip roof and chamfered posts. The other elevations of the building have asymmetrical fenestration. A small gabled wing on the south side and a 2-story bay window of the east side were added simultaneously with the facade's transverse gable, ca. 1889.

Just northwest of the ell is a small L-shaped out-building consisting of two 1½ story gabled structures (a shop and barn) connected by a short transverse gabled section of one story (used as a garage). The shop has an unornamented offset doorway on its gable end and six over six windows. The connecting garage and barn have arched openings.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Period - prehistoric 1400-1499 1500-1599 1600-1699 X X X -1700-1799 1800-1899 1900 Areas of SignificanceCheck and justify below archeology-prehistoric - community planning landscape architecture-_ religion X archeology-historic _ conservation law science agriculture _economics literature sculpture X architecture X education military social/ . art - engineering music humanitarian commerce exploration/settlement. - philosophy theater communications X industry * politics/government _transportation - invention other (specity) Before Addition 1758 Isaac Hobbs, alteration Specific dates 1749, 1758, 1889 Builder

Statement of significance

/Architect 1889 Gen. J.F.B. Marshall Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) The Isaac Hobbs House retains integrity of location, setting, materials, and (to a lesser extent) design and is historically significant as the home of the locally prominent Hobbs family. It thus meets criterion B of the National Register of Historic Places. For nearly two centuries the building was the home of the Hobbs family and its decendants. In the mid-eighteenth century the Hobbs established a tannery which served the town for over a century, and which figured highly in developing Weston's industrial base, shoe manufacturing. From the beginning, the Isaac Hobbs House was the center of actvities for the tannery located to the east on Hobbs Brook. The house was shared by various members of the family, each of whom took part in some aspect of the business.

The family operated a slaughter house to provide the leather for the shoes, harnesses, belts, whips, and cartridge boxes which they manufactured. The extensive shoe business conducted by the Hobbs was essentially a home industry, the parts of the shoes being cut by the Hobbs for distribution to local residents who assembled the completed product. The Hobbs Tannery closed in 1860, but Weston continued as a center for leather goods until the turn of this century. The property on which the Isaac Hobbs House now stands was first acquired by the family in 1729, with Josiah Hobbs's purchase of 122 acres. Later generations of the family were distinguished as participants in the Boston Tea Party, soldiers in the Revolutionary War, the house was named, was deacon of the First Parish Church for 35 years, was Town Clerk, Bunker Hill.

Isaac's grandson Samuel was married to Abigail Kendal, daughter of the minister of the First Parish Church, who established the first Sunday School in the parish. and Abigail Kendal Hobbs's nephew, General J. F. Baldwin Marshall, acquired the house in the late nineteenth century. General Marshall served as Paymaster General for Massachusetts in the Civil War. He is also distinguished as co-founder of the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute for Negroes and Indians, a school founded in Virginia in 1868 by the American Missionary Association. The Kendal Green area was named by General Marshall in honor of his maternal grandfather, Rev. Samuel Kendal, minister of the First Parish Church. Architecturally, the Isaac Hobbs House represents the evolution of an early to mid- Georgian structure with Victorian remodeling.

The north wing of the present house may have been standing as early as 1729, when Josiah Hobbs purchased the land with several houses included. In 1749 he gave to his son Ebenezer 70 acres, including the dwelling which Ebenezer already occupied.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References Barber, John Warner, Historical Collections, 1839 Bond, Henry M.D., Geneologies, 1855 Dowse, Leonard, Interview, 3/24/73 Hurd, D. Hamilton, History of Middlesex Co., 1890 10. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property 2.25 concord, MA Quadrangle name UMT References A1913112/1,5,0 Zone Easting 14,69,4|2,701 Northing B Zone Easting CLULLLMLIILLL ELL F GLULLILL Lamson Col. Daniel S. History of Weston, 1913 Nason, Elias,Gazctteer of Mass, 1890 Registry of Probate, Middlesex Co. Registry of Deeds, Mid. Co. Town of Weston Records, Pierce, 1894-1897 Quadrangle scale 1:24000 Northing LUL 11LL Verbal boundary description and justification See attached sketch map. LLLLLL LLILu List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries state NA code county code state code county code 11.

Form Prepared By name/title Wendy Frontiero, Preservation Planner with Frances Marshall, Weston Historical Com. organization Massachusetts Historical Commissiodate May 1980 street & number 294 Washington Street telephone (617) 727-8470 city or town Boston state Massachusetts 02108 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national _ state local As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966(Public Law 89 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature latuma LWeslowiski title Executive Director, Massachusetts Historical Commission date 4/21/82 For HCRS use only I hereby certity that this property is included in the NagioterRedister in the National Register date 6/1/82 date Attest: Chief of Registration GPO 938 835 FHR-8-300 (11-78) United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form For HCRS use only received date entered Continuation sheet Item number Page 2 The older wing may be this dwelling.

In 1758, Ebenezer gave his son Isaac one-third part of the dwelling house and an interest in the tannery.Isaac bullt a large addition tothe south by 1761, and from then on it was always called the "double house." In 1889, General Marshall enlarged the main part toward the west (including thelarge transverse gable and the classical entrance porch), added a small wing to the south, and added a terrace at the southwest corner. Although stylistically rather simple, the Isaac Hobbs House occupies an important place in the development of Weston and is a visual landmark of the Kendal Green area. As a site occupied since the early years of the 18th century, the Isaac Hobbs property un- doubtedly contains accumulated material remains which can provide a perspective on early American domestic life not available in period documents.

Archaeological remains relating to the tanning operation carried out during the 18th century on the Hobbs homestead may also be extant. FHR-8-300 (11-78) United States Department of the Interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL Continuation sheet REFERENCES Item number 9 Lamson, Col. Daniel S., History of Weston, 1913 Nason, Elias, Gazetteer of Mass. 1890 Registry of Deeds, Middlesex County Registry of Probate, Middlesex County Town of Weston Records, Pierce 1894-1897 For HCRS use only received date entered Page 1 N 2.25 ALRES TOWN OF WESTON CONSERVATION LAND NORTH TANNERY SITE AVENUE CHURCH STREET Isaac Hobbs House Weston Middlesex County, MA .

Source: Town Engineer's Map Scale: 1" = 100' Sd.N: 1.04 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION / RETURN SHEET United States Department of the interior National Park Service ,00074- (82-12744 Property:40hbs, Isagc House State, County: MA Federal Agency: Working No. Fed. Reg. Date: Date Due: 527/2 Action: L ACCEPT- resubmission Enteredin the -RETURN- nomination by person or local government Nat1ona1 Registgg - REJECT- owner objection photos appeal maps LL 612-82 6/1182 Substantive Review: - sample - request - appeal - NR decision Reviewer's comments: Recom. /Criteria. Reviewer _ Discipline_ Date -see continuation sheet -Nomination returned for: - technical corrections cited below _substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name Location - 3. Classification Poorobig Wblle Aoopoleltien 4. Owner of Property nooom Ueo 5. Location of Legal Description 6.

Representation in Existing Surveys Me thie property bean determined eligtbte? 7. Description becl nd artglnat (1l keeum) plryaleet a summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates boundary selection Chock one noved 8. Significanco arter summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10. Geographical Data Aaroago of nominatad property Quedrengie rame UMT Reterenoss ferbel boundery dosertatien and justitteatlen 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification Tho evebuetad elgnificance of thie property wlehin the tato is: Retional aate Matorte Preservetten Offcer elgnetun 13.

Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to _ Signed Date - Phone: 202 272-35 Comments tor any Item may be continued on an attached sheet Isaac Hobbs House 87 North Are; Weston Photo#/ view:looking east showing front elevation and a bitaf north side of house; also outbwilding Isaac Hobbs House Weston Middlesex County, MA Photographer: Frances V. Marshall Date: December 1979 Negative filed at Weston Historical Commission Looking East, showing front (west) elevation and some of north side of house; also outbuilding PHOTO 1 OF1 MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Office of the Secretary of State 294 Washington Street Boston, Massachusetts 02108 617-727-8470 MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY Secretary of State April 22, 1982 Ms.

Carol Shull, Acting Keeper National Register of Historic Places RECEIVED APR 28 1982 National Park Service Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. 20243 NATIONAL REG'STER Dear Ms. Shull: Enclosed you will find the following nomination forms: Boston - Adams Nervine Asylum (state) Boyalston - Keyes - Dakin House (local) Grafton - Willard House and Clock Museum (state) Hatfield - The Old Mill Site Historical District (local) Holden - Rogers House (local) Needham - Tolman - Gay House (local) Newton - Slade - Hovey House (Iocal) ewner ebiects Sturbridge - Oliver Wight House (state) Upton - Knowlton Hat Factory (1ocal) Weston - Isaac Hobbs House (local) All have been voted eligible by the State Review Board and have been signed by the State Historic Preservation Officer.

Owners were notified of pending State Review Board consideration 30-75 days before the meeting and were afforded the opportunity to comment. Comments received to date are attached to the nomination forms. Sincerely, Candace fenkins Candace Jenkins Registratio m Director Massachusetts Historical Commission CJ/amf